Supporter of Alexei Navalny are expected to carry outnationwide rallies in his support and asking for his release today. However,warnings are being issued against carrying out any rally in support of Navalny.
After Alexei Navalny landed in Russia, the policeofficers detained him. Now he has been captivated in a Moscow prison. Russia'sprison service in a statement said, they detained Navalny because "he hadbeen wanted since December 29, 2020 for repeated violations of the probationperiod" The prison service added that he will remain in the prison untilcourt orders in his case.
Navalny says the case against him is politicallymotivated on his conviction for embezzlement. He accuses Putin of planning hismurder while the Kremlin denies the allegations.
The rallies and his arrest become all the moresignificant 9 months before assembly elections. US and EU has asked Russia torelease him but to no avail.
USand EU bat for Navalny's release:
Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State called for Navalny's"immediate and unconditional release." Pompeo also said that effortsare being made to silence Navalny who is a stern ciritc of the RussianPresident.
"The Kremlin's attacks on Mr Navalny are not just aviolation of human rights, but an affront to the Russian people who want theirvoices heard," said Jake Sullivan who is an incoming national advisor ofJoe Biden.
France, Italy and President of European Council, Michelalso demanded Navalny's release from the prison. "Instead of persecutingthe victim of this terrible crime, the Russian authorities should investigatehow a chemical weapon came to be used on Russian soil," said theGovernment of UK in a statement to press. It also added that they are 'deeplyconcerned' about his arrest.
Supportersgearing up
Navalny's supporters are gearing up for the rally.Navalny's team had released a video to galvanize supporters as per a reportpublished in Reuters, the video is about an opulent palace, allegedly belongedto Putin on black sea. However, the Kremlin denies it but the video has beenwatched 60 million times by Friday.
The authorities in Russia have cautioned the supportersof Navalny that they will be investigated for criminal activities and two ofhis supporters are in jail for a week now. One of the imprisoned supporters ishis spokesperson.